TR allows the blood to flow backwards from the right ventricle to the right atrium, which increases the volume and pressure of the blood both in the right atrium and the right ventricle,[2] which may increase central venous volume and pressure if the backward flow is sufficiently severe.

Primary TR refers to a defect solely in the tricuspid valve, such as infective endocarditis; secondary TR refers to a defect in the valve as a consequence of some other pathology, such as left ventricular failure or pulmonary hypertension.

A third heart sound may also be present, also heard at the lower sternal border, and increasing in intensity with inspiration.

[10] It is also contemplated that the process via which tricuspid regurgitation emerges, is a decrease of contraction of the myocardium around the annulus.

[citation needed] Definitive diagnosis is made by echocardiogram, which is capable of measuring both the presence and the severity of the TR, as well as right ventricular dimensions and systolic pressures.

[3] Indications for surgical fixation of tricuspidal issues include organic lesion(s) in the valve or severe functional regurgitation.

[11] Some evidence suggests that there is no significant difference between the survival rates of recipients of mechanical versus biological tricuspid valves.

[3] Even in those with mild TR, a large population based study showed about a 29% greater risk of death as compared to healthy controls.

[19] In The Framingham Heart Study, presence of tricuspid regurgitation of mild severity or greater, was present in about 14.8% of men and 18.4% of women.

[21] Clinically significant TR is more common in females, this is thought to be partly driven by the increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (both risk factors for TR) in women as compared to men.

[3] Moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation is usually associated with tricuspid valve leaflet abnormalities and/or possibly annular dilation and is usually pathologic which can lead to irreversible damage of cardiac muscle and worse outcomes due to chronic prolonged right ventricular volume overload.

Athletes with tricuspid regurgitation also had enlarged right atrium diameter when compared to control group.